Temperature-compensating conductivity cell



Filed Feb. 2, 1951 KN Wm AHII N ow Q - P. J. CADE //vv/v raps. B. & SHAW ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16 1952 TEMPERATURE-COMPEN SATIN G CONDUCTIVITY CELL Phillip J. Cade, Winchester, and Burton E.

Shaw,

East Boxford, Mass., assignors to Photoswitch Marine Division, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 2, 1951, Serial No. 209,158

This invention relates generally to apparatus for measuring the electrical conductivity of fluids whereby quantitative indications of the electrolyte concentration thereof may be had, as well as fluid system control which is responsive to said electrolyte concentration. This invention relates particularly to automatic temperature-compensating conductivity cells or probes, which, when immersed in an electrolyte solution and connected to auxiliary apparatus, produce an output function responsive only to the electrolyte concentration of the solution under test.

It is customary to employ apparatus of this type aboard all large seagoing vessels which utilize sea water for boiler feed-water, drinking, cooling and other water requirements. In order that this water may be suitable for these purposes, it is necessary that it be distilled to remove the dissolved salts. A continual salinity check should be made of the output of the distilling apparatus to detect the presence of sea salt therein.

Practically all salinity checking arrangements of the prior art employ conductivity cells. Basically, a conductivity cell usually comprises two electrodes whose spacing and liquid contact area are accurately fixed. When this cell is immersed in the liquid to be tested and connected to auxiliary apparatus, the electrical impedance of the liquid volume between the electrodes can be determined. Since the impedance of a saline solution varies inversely to the concentration of the electrolyte, continual or periodic. electrical conductivity testing of the portion of the liquid sampled by a set of these cell electrodes will disclose minute changes in the'salinity of the liquid. I hese electrical conductivity values are easily converted to equivalent concentrations of sea salt by a properly calibrated metering circuit.

Unfortunately, the impedance of a saline solution is affected not only by the electrolyte concentration thereof, but also by the temperature of the liquid. Temperature-compensating conductivity cells have, therefore, been utilized in the prior art to compensate for the inaccuracies in salinity measurements and control introduced by ambient temperature changes in the liquid under test. These cells usually comprise, in addition to the electrodes of the basic cell, a temperature-compensating impedance element having substantially the same negative temperature coefiicient of impedance as the saline solution under test. The complete temperature-compen sating conductivity cell, therefore, comprises two impedance elements, the temperature-compen- 7 Claims. (Cl. -183) sating impedance element and the volume of the liquid under test between the basic cell electrodes. When these two impedance elements are properly connected to auxiliary circuits and subjected to the same temperature changes, the ratio of the output current from each element is responsive, for all practical purposes, only to variations in the electrolyte concentration of the liquid under test. Thus, the temperature-compensating conductivity cell can give an indication influenced only by salt concentration. This same cell can also be connected to liquid control apparatus which is responsive only to salt concentration.

Satisfactory operation of the aforementioned temperature-compensating conductivity cells depends, to a large extent, upon the efiiciency of the thermal coupling between the liquid under test and the temperature-compensating impedance element. Inadequate thermal coupling will introduce an objectionable time delay before accurate salinity measurements and control can be provided by the cell. The structure of the means employed to electrically insulate the basic electrodes from one another is also vitally important to proper operation of the cell. This insulating means must be capable of resisting the deteriorating effects of the liquid under test and also not permit the formation of an electrical current leakage path between the electrodes. In addition, the insulating means must, in the usual case, provide an adequate seal to prevent the liquid under test from escaping from the liquid system by leaking through the cell.

In many of the arrangements of the prior art, the compensating element has comprised a vessel filled with a liquid of substantially the same electrolyte composition as the liquid under test. In another type of conductivity cell, the compensating impedance element has comprised a solid resistor having an elongated cylindrical shape. This resistor was located within one of the electrodes of the basic cell, which electrode formed a container for the resistor. In these cell arrangements, aninsulatin-g gasket or a ceramic shell was used to insulate the basic electrodes from one another and provide a liquid seal.

The novel temperature-compensating conductivity cell structure of this invention contemplates a basic cell which includes a tubular outer electrode enveloping an inner container electrode. The two electrodes are insulated from one another by a resilient sealing ring to which there is applied a continual self-adjusting spring force. This self-adjustingforce causes an annular tooth of an adapter piece and an annular tooth of the container electrode to bite into the sealing ring, thereby providing a dynamic seal of long life. The sealing ring, which is preferably constructed of polytetra-fiuorethylene, commonly known as teflon, will also not crack or permit the formation of a leakage path on the surface thereon A temperature-compensating resistor is located within the inner container electrode. This resistor is a solid disc-type element, one circular surface of which is soldered directly to an inner surface of the container electrode. Thisstructural arrangement provides for a short metallic thermal path between the liquid under test and a large surface area of the compensating element. This feature of the invention minimizes th time delay heretofore present in temperature-compensating conductivity cells.

Another feature of this invention, which will 4 substantially the same tmeperature coeificient of resistance as the liquid under test. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, resistor H is a thermistor constructed of Carborundum composition material which can be purchased from the Carborundum Company Niagara Falls; New York. Insulating and sealing ring 9 prevents electrode 8 from making electrical contact vwith electrode 6 through metallic adapter piece l8, and inasmuch as spacer I2 is an insulator,

v the right surface of resistor l l is prevented from making electrical contact with electrode holder be readily apparent from the detailed description hereinafter set forth, is the comparative ease with which the component parts of the conductiv tyaccllmaybe disassembled for replacement of defective components thereof.

Accordingly, it is an'object of this invention to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of automatic temperature-compensating conductivity cells.

Anotherobject-is to improve the liquid seal of conductivity cells whereby leakage of the liquid under test through the internal cell structure can be minimized. v

Another object is to improve the structure of temperature-compensating conductivity cells so thatreplacement of defective components there- OfjiS facilitated, H p

in order that the mode of operation of the novel structure for attaining the aforementioned objects maybe readilyunderstood, reference is herein made to the drawings, wherein:

1g. 1 is a sectional view of theconductivity cell of this invention, with a .center portion of the 'celltu'b'e thereof bibkehaw'ay, and the liquid system attaching structure removed;

Fig. '2fis a front advances: the conductivity cell of 1, with the structure for attaching measure a liquid system shown insection; and Fig. Bis a'pers'pectiveview of the compltefconductivlity cell of this invention.

, eferring iio'w,iin the mainfto'l igsl, when the operating portion of the "conductivity cell of this invention immersed in the liquid under test, the'inner surface 5 'of .metallic electrode 16 and the outer surface"? of metallic inner container electrode 8 are Wetted .by' liquid flowing through s'ideapertur'es Ti] and end opening 41. Thelidiiid volumebetween surfaces "5 and '1 comprises "a first impedance element j of the conductivity cell. surfacesfi 'andl'arie'preferably of "a noble metal, such as platinum or j gold, so that electrode cor rosionis kept to a minimum. J

The circular left'surfac;e. or temperature-compensating resistor l is soldered to the inner surface'of electrode. 8, I Insulating spacer lla's'sures the perman'ence 'of. thissoldered connection by mechanically supporting "resistor 1|. Because of the thin disc-like structure of the resistor,..a high degree Jof thermal coupling fe'xis'ts between the liquid undertest smiths mass'of the resistor. It' is to be f noted that the short thermal path to thejresistorsurlface contacting electrode 8 is completely metallic. The cylindrical side surface of resistor I If is preferably separated from the inner side siirface of electrode 8 by a few thousandths of an inch. Resistor l [,[for most efficienttemperature-compensation. should have.

Electrically speaking, the temperature-com pensating conductivity cell of this invention, therefore, comprises two impedance elements ,with one terminal of each element being com monly connected. That is, the left surface of resistor II is connected electrically to container electrode 8 by the common soldered junction therebetween. An external electrical connection is made .to this common junction by conductor 21 through soldering .lug 25, which lug contacts metallic electrode holder 16, and which holder is in turn screwed to electrode 3., Soldering lug 25 is'held in place by slotted nut2'3. Lug 25 and the soldered connection thereto and nut .23 .are insulated from cell tube 30 by insulating sleeve 26. Electrode holder liiis insulatedby bushing 22 and insulating sleeve 19. f

Electrical connection is made to the rlg'hts'ur face 61": resistor H by conductor '29. A loop'l3 of this conductor is soldered to the right surfaceof resistor Hr Conductor'ZS is insulated'from electrode holder IB by insulating pieces [5 and24., Electrical connectionds' made to electrode'fli by soldering conductor 28 to metallic cell tube 3fl'fat 3,2, which cell tube is, in turn, 'screwed't'o the adapter 'piece ls-electrode "6 combination. Gasket 2'l,which is preferably of a soft material such ascopp'en'forms a liquid seal between adapterp'i'ece 1'8 and cell tube 38. The liquid under test is prevented from leaking into'the 'inner'p'orti'ons' of cell tube 38 by .the

. commonly contacting surfaces of ring =9 and adapter piece l8 and the commonly contacting surfaces of ring 9 and electrode holder 16 plus surface '1. The liquidseal between these'surfaces is'kept'tig'h't .by the continualforce appliedto el'ectrode holder 16 and electrode '8 through nut 23 and bushing 22 by compressed'spring 213; This force, which is'directed to the right, compresses resilientringll', and causes annular tooth ll of adap'ter'piece l"8"and "the annulartooth l'4'of electrodefB to bite deeply'int'o ringS. 'Ring 9 is'pre'f' erably constructed o'f'a ".liquidresistive material such as "te'flon. adjustmentof "slotted nut 23 will vary the amount of ."compression applied -to theinsula'ting" ring. I I

Conductors '21, 28 and 29 are preventedffrjom applying a "pulling "force Ito their respective in? ternal connections 'byjgla'nd' nut." 31 which'when tightened suiliciently, applies a force to gland ring-s Blend 36, thereby compressinglres'ili'erit packing} lPackingifil'appliesa frictional force: to sheath 35, thereby? holding the .conduc'torsl'in.

hat't ee im: 9 h ew s u tir y c ll-,- tps'i left of the fragmentary piping shown is. immersedin liquid, at least; to the extent that the common volume between electrodes .6, and 8 is The attachment of the complete conductivity cell to piping is as follows: with gland nut 3'l removed, nipple 39 is screwed to packing nut 42, which nut is loaded with spacer 40 and packing ring M. This attaching structure is afiixed to cell tube 30 by passing the structure over a portion of cell tube 30 until set screw 43 can be screwed into flat-bottomed groove 3 I. Gland nut 31 is then added. The entire combination is then screwed into piping 38 as shown in Fig. 2.

The disassembly of the complete conductivity cell is as follows: the pipe attaching structure is removed from cell tube 30 after loosening set screw 43 and removing gland nut 31. Packing rings 34 and 36, including packing 35, arethen removed. The soldered connection at 32- is. then broken by applying a hot soldering iron thereto. After cell tube 30 is unscrewed from the rest of the cell assembly, gasket 2| is removed. Conductor 21 is then unsoldered from lug 25 and conductor 29 is out near the splice. After insulating sleeve 26, lug and nut 23 are removed, bushing 22 and piece i9, together with spring 20, are removed. Electrode 6 is then unscrewed from adapter piece i=8. After the removal of adapter piece I8 from the rest of the remaining assembly, sealing ring 9' is slipped off of electrode holder [6. Finally, electrode 8 is unscrewed from the electrode holder [6.

The assembly of the complete conductivity cell is substantially the reverse of the disassembly procedure.

A circuit for utilizing the temperature-compensating conductivity cell of this invention for quantitative indications and control of salinity concentration is disclosed in an application of Phillip J. Cade and Donald J. MacDougall, Serial No. 209,157, filed February 2, 1951. Other circuits of the prior art, however, may be satisfactorily utilized with the conductivity cell disclosed herein to produce any of the conventional functions of conductivity cells.

Furthermore, while the above-described arrangements are illustrative of the principles of this invention, it should be obvious to persons skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic temperature-compensating conductivity cell comprising a cell tube, an adapter piece coupled to said cell tube, a removable metallic outer electrode coupled to said cell tube by said adapter piece, a metallic container electrode enveloped by said outer electrode, a disc-shaped solid resistor having two flat circular surfaces and being positioned within said container electrode, one of said surfaces being soldered directly to said container electrode, a sealing ring of polytetra-fiuorethylene electrically insulating said outer electrode from said container electrode, said adapter piece and said container electrode each having an annular tooth contacting said sealing ring, an electrode holder coupled to said container electrode, and a spring coupled to said electrode holder and applying a force which causes said annular teeth to bite deeply into said sealing ring whereby a liquid seal is formed between said outer electrode and said container electrode.

2. An. automatic temperaturewompensating conductivity cell comprising a cell tube,, an adapter piece, a tubular electrode, coupled to said cell tube by said adapter piece, a container electrode mechanically, coupled to said tubular electrode, an impedance element positioned within said container electrode, a resilient sealing ring insulating said electrodes from one another, said adapter piece and said container electrodeeaoh having an annular tooth contacting said sealing ring, and means including a spring applying a force causing said teeth to sink deeply into said sealing ring whereby a liquid seal is formed; between'said electrodes. Y 3. An automatic temperature-compensating conductivity cell comprising a cell tube, an adapter piece, a tubular electrode coupled to said cell tube by said adapter piece, said adapter piece having an inner recess with an annular tooth formed therein, a resilient sealing ring fitting into said recess, an, electrode holder positioned within said sealing ring and through said adapter piece, an impedance element, a container electrode including said impedance element positioned within said sealing ring and being coupled to said electrode holder, and means including a spring coupled to said electrode holder applying a force to cause said adapter piece, container electrode and electrode holder to compress said resilient ring whereby a liquid seal is formed between said electrodes.

4. An automatic temperature-compensating conductivity cell comprising a cell tube, an adapter piece, a tubular electrode coupled to said cell tube by said adapter piece, said adapter piece having an inner recess, a resilient sealing ring fitting into said recess, an electrode holder positioned within said sealing ring and through said adapter piece, an impedance element, a container electrode including said impedance element positioned within said sealing ring and being coupled to said electrode holder, and means including a spring coupled to said electrode holder applying a force to cause said adapter piece, container electrode and electrode holder to compress said resilient ring whereby a liqud seal is formed between said electrodes.

5. An automatic temperature-compensating conductivity cell comprising a thin-walled, metallic container electrode having a circular, fiat bottom and a tubular side wall, a tubular metallic outer electrode partially enveloping said container electrode, a disc-shaped solid resistor having two flat circular surfaces and being located within said container electrode, one of said sur-- faces being fastened directly to the inside bottom of said container electrode whereby a high conductivity thermal path is provided between said resistor and the liquid under test, means including a partly tubular resilient ring partially enveloping said container electrode for electrically insulating said outer electrode from said container electrode and for providing a liquid seal therebetween, said container electrode having an annular tooth formed upon the upper edge of the sidewall thereof, and means including a spring coupled to said electrode holder for causing said tooth to sink deeply into said resilient ring.

6. An automatic temperature-compensating conductivity cell comprising a thin-walled, metallic container electrode having a circular, bottom and a tubular side wall, a metallic outer electrode partially enveloping said container electrode, a solid impedance element fastened directly to the inside bottom of said container elecltrcde emi being separated slightlyifromi the insi'de surface-of said t'ubiilar side wall; partly tiibularniresilient sealing ring insulating said outerielectrode from*said con-tainerelectrode, one on more -annular teeth contacting said :ring, and means including afspring coupledl to saidv 'elecvmade-ghclderior'applying e compressing:iorce ,to "said sealingaing and causing said-teeth to sink deep1y. -therein, whereby a.liquid seal is' formed between'said zoute'r andicontain'er electrodes.

' 2: automatic temperature-compensating conductivity cell comprisingne first electrode,

0nd electrode mechanically rcoupled :to eaid 1 first "electrode by. said couplingmeans, a solid im- .pedancelelementpositioned zwithinsa-id firstelec trade substantially half of the outer'surface of sa'i(1iimpedancenelemeniawbeing fastened idirectly to-.;said-' first A electrode, partly tubular resilient insulating. means partially "enveloping said first eiecti ode and. electrically:.insulating said ,eleccoupling-means including aniadapteripiece;a secing rin'g and; 'causing said 'tooth toQsin'li deeply- Atherein whereby a liquid seal is formed.

PHILLIP meme;

BURTON REFERENCES CIT'ED 'Thefollowing references: are of" record" in 't'he 5 file of this patent:

UNITED. STATES PATENTS Number: I Date:

-23560309., Borell :et -al.. 

